Board Logo

King + Link Pin rebuilding
Chewy - October 5th, 2004 at 12:44 PM

Hey all.
Whats involved with rebuilding K+L pins? I've got the pins out, the bushes are buggered and the pins are worn.
With rebuild kits, do the bushes just press in and are ready to accept the pins? Or do the bushes require machining to fit the pins??
Any help greatly appreciated
Cheers
Chewy

Brad - October 5th, 2004 at 02:11 PM

basically you pull it all apart and remove the old bushes. Once you have cleaned it all up you simply push in the new bushes which come with the king pins. Once they are in you ream them out to suit the king pins so they are a snug fit, them shim them up and put the link pin assempbly back on.

Before you put the link pin assembly back on do the same to it's bushes or just use the roller link pin bearings and save the hassle or reaming.

All in all you are often better off just getting exchange units from a VW shop. An exchange unit is about $220 and by the time you pay retail for a king and link pin set you are often getting pretty close to this. Add to that the time and tolls required and you see where the $220 becomes a good deal.

I will see if I have a tech article on doing it in the VW manuals.

vw54 - October 5th, 2004 at 02:19 PM

Make sure you check the stub axles and arms to see if there not bent before replacing any bushes.

the bushes have to be reamed and need a good torelance fit. Not an easy job if you have not done before i would get a VW shop to do it for me.

Chewy - October 5th, 2004 at 08:44 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Buggy Brad
basically you pull it all apart and remove the old bushes. Once you have cleaned it all up you simply push in the new bushes which come with the king pins. Once they are in you ream them out to suit the king pins so they are a snug fit, them shim them up and put the link pin assempbly back on.

Before you put the link pin assembly back on do the same to it's bushes or just use the roller link pin bearings and save the hassle or reaming.

All in all you are often better off just getting exchange units from a VW shop. An exchange unit is about $220 and by the time you pay retail for a king and link pin set you are often getting pretty close to this. Add to that the time and tolls required and you see where the $220 becomes a good deal.

I will see if I have a tech article on doing it in the VW manuals.


Rebuild kits can be had for $100, I wouldnt expect a machine shop to charge too much for reaming the bushes?? Surely it would end up cheaper to rebuild?

This is going to be an off-road sedan, would the link pin roller bearings survive? Or would it be better to stick with the bushes?
thanks

Brad - October 7th, 2004 at 06:50 PM

$100 for a rebuild kit is good buying so I would grab some of them suckers.

the rollers bearings will last just fine, make sure you keep grease up to them and they will live as long as bushed ones.

A machining shop should't charge to much to ream the bushes if you can find one who is happy to do it and knows what they are doing. Say they charge you $50 then yep you are in front if you do the rest of the work yourself.

Once you have it all back just make sure you shim up the king pin correctly or it will bind up and casue excessive wear. The link pins are easy enough to set up so that is not an issue.

Also check you stub axle to make sure it is straight, they bend quite easily.

I have run roller links on several offroad cars with no issues so far. Will be putting them in the new front end for the manx I intend to destroy next :>..

Chewy - October 8th, 2004 at 05:52 PM

Where could I buy these roller bearings from??
Thanks for the help brad

MickH - October 8th, 2004 at 05:54 PM

Mick Motors sells them:)

Brad - October 8th, 2004 at 07:53 PM

They come with the link pin kit. I don't think u can buy them on their own. But yeah Mick Motors has them.

helterskelter400 - October 8th, 2004 at 11:22 PM

what would be a fair price to have both sides both link & king pins done, walk in drop off, pick up and reinstall urslef.